In Beirut, what began as a humble project to create handmade goods for the elderly has evolved into a powerful community that not only allows women to generate extra income through the art of knitting and crocheting, but also supports families with special needs children.
In 2022, Rita Ghareeb, programme manager for HOPE worldwide Lebanon, had an idea to give knitted goods for Christmas to elderly residents who lived in a local care home. Calling upon women in her church, they came together to learn knitting techniques and get started on the project. However, the women — composed of local mothers of special needs children, church members, and refugees from Syria — soon found that coming together to knit every week provided much more than the joy of giving gifts. Knitting provided a gift for themselves.
“The weekly meeting has created a support group, which has provided a safe space for women who are golden age as well as younger women who like to stitch,” said Nelly Shekian, who is now the brainchild of the STITCHED designs. “We are seeing so much passion to learn how to stitch. It is a safe community and a space for women.”
She added, “This meeting has become a form of therapy for us, where women feel that they are useful and productive. If we don’t meet, we feel like something is missing in our lives — we are like one big family.”
In addition to the emotional support that the STITCHERS receive from one another, they have found that there is a market in Lebanon for Nelly’s fashion-forward designs — allowing them to sell their goods, make a profit, and provide “pocket money” for themselves. Since 2019, when the Lebanese pound lost 97 percent of its value, many families have been unable to afford necessities like food, transportation, and electricity, making the earnings from STITCHED all the more valuable.
Another goal of the STITCHED programme is to use the proceeds from the sales to support therapy costs for local special needs families. An average speech or occupational therapy appointment is between 25-50 USD, far above what many families can afford, according to Rita.
Empowering women and families, one stitch at a time
At the weekly meetings, Nelly and the STITCHERS come together to plan new projects and learn and refine their skills. In between meetings, STITCHERS work on projects at home, bringing their creations back to the group for feedback and encouragement. With Nelly’s attention to detail and long-time love of knitting, she requires excellence in every woman who comes to the group.
Many of the women were first-time knitters, but their skills have graduated far beyond scarves and hats. Under Nelly’s guidance, who has a background in fashion design, the women make jewellery, purses, pen covers, and even flowers for special occasions.
Nelly, who is a mother of a child with autism, shares how leading the STITCHED group is helping her as well: “I see the appreciation around me, and it is helping me to become a better mom for my kids and a better woman in my community,” she said. “It is opening a lot of opportunities. Therapies cost a lot of money. We want to help the children to get better, and to help ease the pain of the families. I am taking the blessings from God and putting my energy where he wants me to put it. The appreciation from the families is so rewarding.”
Rita, who has taken on the role of marketing the goods on and offline, has high hopes for the future of the project. She dreams of opening a STITCHED coffee shop, where their fashionable items can be sold and where adults with special needs can seek employment.
But for now, she and Nelly are happy to see how this project is weaving positive threads into the hearts of those who attend the group – bringing laughter, support, and warmth with every clickety-clack of the needles and in every stitch.
